The account books of Boroughs and Parishes show that the poor received medical treatment from men and women indiscriminately. A whole series of such payments occur in the minute book of the Dorchester Corporation. “It is ordered that the Vˡⁱ to be paid to Peter Salanova for cutting of Giles Garrett’s leg shall be paid out of the Xˡⁱ yearly paiable out of the Hospitall for pious vses ... to have the one halfe having cutt of his leg already, and the other halfe when he is thoroughly cured.[612] ... Unto the Widdow Foote xs. for the curing of the Widow Huchins’ lame leg at present; and xs. more when the cure is finished[613].... Mr. Losse should be payed by the Steward of the Hospital the somme of viij li for his paynes and fee as Phisitian in taking care of the poore of the Towne for the last yeare ... as it hath bin formerly accustomed.... Vnto Mr. Mullens the somme of thirty shillings for curing Hugh Rogers of a dangerous fistula.”[614] Three pounds more (three having already been paid) was ordered to be given to “Cassander Haggard for finishing the great cure on John Drayton otherwise Keuse.”[615] In another case the Council tendered to Mr. Mullens, “the chirurgeon, the some of xxxˢ for curing of Thomas Hobbs, but he answered hee would consider of it next weeke [He declined].”[616] Footnote 612: _Ibid._ Vol. XVIII., p. 196. _Accounts of Parish of Mayfield._ Footnote 613: _Cratfield Parish Papers_, p. 179., 1640. Footnote 614: Mayo, C. H., _Municipal Records of Dorchester_, p. 516, 1640. Footnote 615: _Ibid._ p. 518, 1651. Footnote 616: _Ibid._ p. 518, 1649-50. At Cowden the overseers paid to Dr. Willett for “reducing the arm of Elizᵗʰ Skinner, and for ointment, cerecloths and journeys, £2;” three years later a further sum of 10s. was given “to Goodwife Wells for curing Eliz Skinner’s hand.”[617] Mary Olyve was paid 6s. 8d. “for curing a boye that was lame” at Mayfield,[618] and 15s. was given to “Widow Thurston for healing of Stannard’s son,” by the churchwardens at Cratfield.[619] In Somerset £5 was paid to “Johane Shorley towards the cure of Thomas Dudderidge. Further satisfaction when cure is don.”[620] Footnote 617: _Ibid._ pp. 518-9. 1652-1654. Footnote 618: _Ibid._ p. 519. Footnote 619: _Sussex Arch. Coll._, Vol. XX., p. 114. _Account Book of Cowden_, 1690. Footnote 620: _Somerset Q.S. Records_, Vol. III., p. 212. 1653. Such entries show that though women may have practised surgery and medicine chiefly as domestic arts, nevertheless their skill was also used professionally, their natural aptitude in this direction enabling them to maintain their position throughout the seventeenth century even when deprived of all opportunities for systematic study and scientific experiments, and in spite of the determined attacks by the Corporations of physicians and surgeons; but their success was owing to the fact that Science had as yet achieved small results in the standard of medical efficiency.